Strap-end attaching clasp



DeC.V 7, 948. A BLUMSTElN 2,455,465

STRAP-END ATTACHING CLASP Filed Jan. 12, 1945 Patented Dec. 7, 1948 UNITED STATES PATENT oFEIcE f STRAP-END ATTACHING CLASP Abraham Bluinstein, Forest Hills, N. Y.

Application January 12, 1945, Serial No. 572,537

5 Claims. (Cl. 24-265) This invention relates to clasps 0r fasteners of the type employed for securing the ends of cords or straps used in wrist watch bands, bracelets or similar articles.

The invention is directed to the provision of a novel clasp of the aforementioned character having improved characteristics as compared with analogous devices of the prior art, par ticularly with regard to means for attaching the ends of the cords to the clasp and the security of such attachment.

It is also an object of the invention to provide a clasp which is simple in' construction and pleasing in appearance, easily assembled, sturdy and durable in use and such as to permit of the ready insertion and clamping of the cord ends therein.

Another and more specific object of the invention is to eliminate the use of a clamping member received within the hollow or channel member il'.

into which the end of the cords are inserted and maintained in clamping position therein by friction, such as is generally adopted in the prior art devices, and to insure the clamping of the cord ends by means of a member arranged outwardly of the channel member and conformed for interlocking engagement therewith.

The invention also contemplates the provision of a gripper member for the ends of the cords, associated with a clamping member of the character aforesaid in such a manner as to be pressed into gripping engagement with the ends of the cords and to be concurrently locked in such a position by the clamping member when this latter is locked to the channel member as relative position of the ends of the cords and of l the constituent elements of the clasps when this latter is closed, the gripper and clamping members of the clasps being also shown in broken lines in an open position thereof to illustrate the operation of the clasps.

Fig. 5 is an end view of the clasp showing means coacting to grip the ends of the cords, provided at one end of the structure.

Fig. 6 is an end view of the clasp illustrating the opposite end thereof.

Fig. 7 is a perspective view of the channel member forming part of the clasp.

Fig. 8 is a perspective View of the gripper member.

Fig. 9 is a perspective View of the clamping member.

Referring now in detail to the drawings, numeral Ill generally indicates a clasp according to the invention. By way of illustration, two of said clasps are shown in Fig. 1 applied to the ends of oppositely extending pairs of cords II forming part of a wrist watch band, the clasps being interconnected by a suitable fastener I2 to complete the band.

The clasp l0 consists of the three members shown isolated in Figs. '7 to 9, namely a body or channel member I, a gripper member I5 and a locking or clamping member I6, the construction and manner of assembly whereof will now be described.A

The body I4, which is of elongated channellike conformation and is open at the bottom thereof, comprises parallel side walls I8 and a flat top wall I9; this latter is bent at one of its ends to provide a downwardly extending terminal edge cut to define therein a plurality of teeth or serrations 26. The wall I9 terminates, at its end remote from the serrations 2D, inwardly ofthe ends of the side walls I8 to define a recess 2| for the fastener I2, which may be of any suitable construction and engages the transverse element 22 interconnecting said ends of the side walls I3 and preferably formed integral therewith.

A further smaller opening or slot 24 is provided in the top wall I9, and the side walls I8 are undercut at their ends opposite the transverse element 22 to form recessed portions 25 underneath the serrations 20, for the purpose that will become later apparent.

The gripper member I5 has one end pivotally mounted within the side walls of the channel member M adjacent the lower edge thereof by means of projections 2S received within openings 2l of said walls, so as to be movable to a position to form a bottom closure for the channel member. Adjacent its free end, the gripper member is provided with lugs 25 adapted to abut against the lower edge of the side walls I8 at the aforementioned recessed portions 25 thereof, and has projections 30 extending outwardly of the yside Walls. The free end of the gripper member is bent to define an upwardly extending terminal edge provided With serrations 32; when the clasp is closed, said serrations extend toward the serrations 20 of the channel member, as illustrated in Figs. 4 and 5, and cooperate with these latter to grip and hold the ends of the cords Il Within the clasp.

The clamping member I6 comprises a pair of spaced parallel legs 34, and a connecting end portion 36 solid or rigid therewith. The legs 34 embody, near the ends thereof, openings 3,5 adapted to receive the projections 30 of the gripper member to pivotally connect the vclamping member thereto. The end portion 36 of the clamping member extends at an angle to said legs 34, as best seen in Fig. 4, and is provided with a substantially resilient hook-shaped projection 3l, which is adapted to be inserted into the aforementioned opening 24 of the top Wall I9 of the channel member `hl when the clampingmember -isvmoved to the `position illustrated'in Fig. 4, to lock the clasp in closed position. As Will be apparent, the end portion 35 and the legs 34 of the clamping member define an opening 38 through :the cords may be passed for insertion into the channel member. The outer surface of the portion 38 may be decorated to enhance the ornamental appearance of the clasp.

The manner in Which the clasp is applied to the ends of the cords and these latter clamped therein, will .be evident from the foregoing description and from the showing of Fig. fl.

Assuming that the clasp has been opened, s .that the pivoted gripper and clamping members |5and I6 have been allowed to move to an open .position such as illustrated in broken lines in Fig-,Lathe ends of the cords -II may be passed through the opening 38 defined in the clamping member, as aforementioned, to overlie the inner face of the gripper member and the serrations 32 thereof; by then swinging the gripper member toward the channel member to close the bottom of this latter, the Icords are caused to enter the channel member and to be engaged by the oppositely projecting serrations 32 and 20. The clamping member is then rotated about the pivots 30 to superimpose the portion 36 vthereof upon the top wall I9 of the channel member and force the projection 3l to snap into the slot 2li to engage the edge of this latter, thereby locking the ciasp with its several members in the closed positionfshown in full lines in Fig. 4. The movement' of the clamping member to locking position Will concurrently draw the free end of the gripper member toward the opposed end of the top wall t9, as in a camming action, so that the serrations 32 will press upon the ends of the cords and 4will be locked in such pressure exerting position, thereby securely clamping the cord ends Within fthe clasp. Manifestly, the structure described affords an absolute security of the attachment of lthe cords.

It is to be understood that While I have described *and illustrated a preferred embodiment lofthe invention, certain changes and modications may be made therein Without departing vfrom the spirit of the invention or exceeding the scope of the claims.

I claim:

l. A clasp for the ends of cords and the like, `comprising a channel member open at the bottom yand'at one end thereof to receive the ends of the cords, a gripper member having one end pivoted to the `side walls -of said channel member -at a point remote from the open end thereof, said gripper member having an open and a clamping position, said gripper member extending substantially to said open end along the bottom of the channel member to close said bottom when in said clamping position, means at the free end of the gripper member for gripping the cords without penetration therein in cooperation with means provided in said open end of said channel member when said gripper member in said clamping position thereof, a clamping 'member having an inoperative and an operative position, said clamping member embodying an end portion juxtaposed to the top Wall of the channel member when said clamping member is in said operative position and portions projecting from said end portion pivotally connected to the free end of the gripper member, said portions extending externally 4of the channel member and maintaining the gripper member in said clamping position thereof when the clamping member is in said operative position thereof, and interengaging means on the top Wall of Vthe channel member and the end portion of the clamping member for releasably locking this latter to the top wall of the channel member.

2. A clasp for the ends of cords and the like, comprising a channel member open at the bottom land at one -end thereof to receive the endsof the cords, a gripper member having one Vend pivoted to the side Walls of said channel member at: a point remote from the open end thereof, said gripper member having an open and a clamping position, said gripper member extending to said open end along the bottom of the channel member to close said bottom when in said clamping position, serrations oppositely projecting from the top wall of the channel member and from the gripper member' for gripping the cords without penertation therein when said gripper member is in said clamping position thereof, a clamping member having an operative and an inoperative position, said clamping member embodying an lend portion juxtaposed to the outer face of the top Wall of the channel member Whensaid clamping member is in said operative position and side portions projecting from said end portion and pivotally connected to the sides of the gripper member at the free end thereof, said side portions extending externally of the channel member and maintaining the gripper member in said clamping position thereof when the clamping member is in said operative position thereof, and interengaging means on the top Wall of the channel member and the end portion of the clamping member for releasably locking this latter to the top Wall of .the channel member.

3. A clasp for the ends of cords and the like, comprising a channel member open at the bottom and at one end thereof to receive the ends of the cords, said channel member embodying a top Wall having a slot therein, a .gripper member having one end pivoted to the side Walls of said channel member at a point remote from the open end thereof, said gripper member having an open 'and a; Aclamping position, said gripper member extending substantially to said open end along the bottom of the channel `member to close said bottom When in said clamping position, means at the free end of the gripper member for gripping the cords Without penetration therein in cooperation with means provided in said open end of said channel member when said gripper member is in said clamping position thereof, a clamping member having an inoperative and an operative position, said clamping member embodying an end portion juxtaposed to the top wall of the channel member when said clamping member is in said operative position and portions projecting from said end portion pivotally connected to the free end of the gripper member said portions extending externally of the channel member and maintaining the gripper member in said clamping position thereof when the clamping member is in said operative position thereof, and means projecting from the end portion of the clamping member insertable into said slot in the top Wall of the channel member to releasably lock the clamping member to the top Wall of the channel member.

4. A clasp for the ends of cords and the like, comprising a channel member open at the bottom and at one end thereof to receive the ends of the cords, said channel member embodying a top wall having a slot therein, a gripper member having one end pfivoted to the side walls of said channel member at a point remote from the open end thereof, said gripper member having an open and a clamping position, said gripper member extending to said open end along the bottom of the channel member to close said bottom when in said clamping position, serrations oppositely projecting from the top Wall of the channel member and from the gripper member for grip ping the cords without penetration therein when the gripper member is in said clamping position thereof, a clamping member having an operative and an inoperative position, said clamping member embodying an end portion juxtaposed to the outer face of the top Wall of the channel member when said clamping member is in said operative position and side portions projecting from said end portion and pivotally connected to the sides of the gripper member at the free end thereof, said side portions extending externally of the channel member and maintaining the gripper member in said clamping position thereof when the clamping member is in said operative position thereof, and a resilient element projecting from the end portion of the clamping member insertable into said slot in the top wall of the channel member to releasably lock the clamping member to the top wall of the channel member.

5. A clasp for the ends of cords and the like, comprising a channel member open at the bottom and at one end thereof to receive the ends of the cords, a gripper member having one end pivoted to the side walls of said channel member at a point remote from the open end thereof, said gripper member having an open and a clamping position, said gripper member extends substantially to said open end along the bottom of the channel member to close said bottom when in said clamping position, serrations projecting upwardly at the free end of the gripper member for gripping the cords without penetrating therein in cooperation with downwardly projecting serrations provided in said open end of said channel member when said gripper member is in said clamping position thereof, a clamping member having an operative and an inoperative position, said clamping member embodying an end portion juxtaposed to the top wall of the channel member when said clamping member is in said operative position and integral spaced legs projecting from said end portion at an angle therewith and pivotally connected to the sides of the gripper member adjacent the free end thereof, said legs extending in juxtaposition to the side walls of the channel member externally thereof and maintaining the gripper member in said clamping position thereof when the clamping member is in said operative position thereof, and means for releasably locking the end portion of the clamping member to the top wall of the channel member.

ABRAHAM BLUMSTEIN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the ile of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 293,564 Collins Feb. 12, 1884 2,055,328 Augenstein Sept. 22, 1936 2,115,954 Johnson May 3, 1938 2,133,546 Kreisler, et al Oct. 18, 1938 2,143,702 Kestenman Jan. 10, 1939 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 131,419 Switzerland May 1, 1929 373,152 Germany Apr. 9, 1923 

